On [XXX], I was traveling back to Colorado from Missouri. The weather conditions turned poor while I was traveling just west of Topeka, Kansas. I lowered my speed to below the speed limit and continued. At one point, the car lost control. At this time, it veered to left and hit hard against median. Smashing the driver side front end substantially. Airbags did not deploy at this time. My head smashed into the frame to the left of the steering wheel concussing me. (Diagnosed later by an ER Doctor, notes provided in upload) After hitting on the left median, the car then bounced across both lanes of the highway and smashed the concrete median of an overpass. On this second collision the airbags also did not deploy. Before 2023 was over or in the first few days of 2024 I notified Mitsubishi of the issue. They quickly sent me a company called: TM Claims Service, Inc. Out of Pasadena, California. I provided them all of the documentation months ago and have received no communication after they've received it. To my knowledge, there were no previous issues with the airbags or the system that runs them. If I had to estimate the first impact would have been between 50-60mph and the second at least 40-50mph. I could have easily been killed in this situation and I am disappointed in the handling of this. Note the Police Report is not as specific as this and implies one collision, as seen in the photos provided there were two. At this point I do not know where the vehicle is, as it almost been a year and I was trying to work with Mitsubishi on this. I do know if the airbags were inspected following. [XXX] is my correspondence trying to resolve this matter or have it further investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mitsubishi Mirage no deployment problems
73 of the 683 owner complaints about the Mitsubishi Mirage describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 73
- worst model year
- 1995
- typical mileage
- 20,500
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Air bags didn't deploy after impact in crash. Safety of driver was put at severe risk due to such malfunction of deployment of air bags. Vehicle has been inspected by the police and the insurance company. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. AEB didn't engage when driver applied breaks during crash. Safety of driver was put at severe risk due to such malfunction of this breaking system. Vehicle has been inspected by the police and the insurance company. There were no warning lights, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
When having to brake with any suddenness at all, I met two extremes. They either engaged so abruptly everything was thrown forward, or they failed to engage enough. Sudden- I describe this type of braking as when being cut in front of. The necessity to brake in this manner would throw my dogs and belongings into the floor. It happened frequently enough to make an impression. It seemed irregular to me. Extreme- #1: I encountered a pile-up of traffic unexpectedly and outside of the usual slowing areas for the highway. I had to slam on my brakes. The car did not slow sufficiently. The dogs were not thrown to the floor. I avoided collision by moving to another lane. A terrifying moment, but the brakes resumed normal functions under normal conditions. #2- as I drove around a mountainous bend and negotiated some traffic, I was faced with a car at a full stop at a pedestrian crosswalk a short distance ahead of me. I slammed my brakes. The car didn't slow enough. Nothing was thrown forward until the collision. As my foot was fully pressing down on them, I question if the brakes malfunctioned under extreme braking again. Normal- (2000 miles on the car)I approached a stoplight at the end of a steep road. The brakes made a grinding sound and a mechanical pop-like sound. I let off of them then reapplied slowly several times until the car stopped. The sound repeated every time I braked. It sounded as if I continued to brake, they would break. The noises dissipated after I continued. I reported it at my first oil change. He said they were fine. On review at the salvage lot, the brakes appear normal yet remarkably shiny and unused for 14,500 miles. Other: the airbags did not deploy though the car totaled. The display was often in french though english was selected. I do not know if the brakes are in any way run by the computerized part of the car so I add this detail.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 mitsubishi mirage. The contact stated that while at a stop, and attempted to make a turn, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a railroad track without warning. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injury. A police report was filed. The vehicle was damaged and was towed to a body shop where the vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v686000 (19v330000) (air bags). The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was called at 888‑648‑7820 and no one answered the phone. The failure mileage was 6,502. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owned a 2015 mitsubishi mirage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning lights illuminated. The driver lost consciousness and sustained a minor injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. The VIN was not provided.
I was in the center of a four car collision in which my car was hit from the front and back, while stationary and my airbags did not deploy. I was at a stop along a city street.
Tl* the contact owned a 2018 mitsubishi mirage. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and it flipped over three times. The frontal air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The fire department was present and a fire report was filed. The driver and a passenger were injured, taken to the hospital by ambulance, treated, and released. The contact also stated that the vehicle was taken to mountaineer automotive (615 n eisenhower drive, buckley, wv, 25801) to be repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v686000 (air bags) three weeks prior to the crash. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer afterwards for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 mitsubishi mirage. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the front of the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained back pains that required medical attention. A police report was filed. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was notified to diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified after the crash to determine if they could investigate the air bag failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available. *tt consumer stated air bag did not deploy. Vin is not valid. Updated 11/27/18
On 3/8/2018, my 2015 mitsubishi mirage was hit on the front driver side by a simi-truck going 50 or more miles per hour. Yet, my air bags did not deploy. I suffered significant injuries from this accident which could have been less severe, if my air bags deployed accordingly. I was not told when buying the car of any defects with the air bags or sensors. There is currently an open recall on the airbags still being researched. I found this out after searching for answers as to why my air bags didn't deploy. It was just put in around the time I bought my car.
Tl* the contact owned a 2017 mitsubishi mirage. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle, drove off the road, crashed, and flipped the vehicle over. The vehicle sustained severe damage to the front end, but the air bags did not deploy. The contacted stated that the covers for the side curtain air bags came off, but the air bags did not deploy. Both the driver and front passenger sustained neck and back injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The local dealer (mountaineer automotive, 615 n. Eisenhower dr, beckley, wv) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000. *tt
Related recalls
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor error thereby disabling the air bags from deploying in a crash.
- Risk
- Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1‑888‑648‑7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
Recall number 17V686000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to September 2, 2015. If the driver enters an affected vehicle with their feet covered water and salt, it may soak through the carpet and cause corrosion to a wiring connector located in a junction box behind a kick panel to the left of the driver's footrest.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, corrosion of the connector could delay deployment of the frontal air bags, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and the front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected connectors, replacing any found to be corroded. A waterproof sheet will be installed over the connectors to prevent future corrosion. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1‑888‑648‑7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-001.
Recall number 15V815000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to November 20, 2013, and 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles manufactured October 28, 2011, to September 7, 2012. Due to an increased resistance in the impact sensor for the air bag system, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal, side and/or curtain air bags when the SRS warning is illuminated, the frontal air bag may have a delayed deployment and/or the side and curtian air bag may not deploy at all.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not deploy or deploys late, increases the risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy
- Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected impact sensors, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1‑888‑648‑7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-011.
Recall number 15V594000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mitsubishi Mirage no deployment
Which Mitsubishi Mirage years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (21 complaints), 1994 (10 complaints) and 1996 (6 complaints).
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